Sitting in a dapper go well with with a Phillies pin on the jacket pocket whereas sporting his 2008 World Series ring, Dan Baker — the crew’s iconic public handle announcer — reminisced on his experiences behind a microphone at sporting occasions.

“And in this corner, he weighs 265 pounds … from Abruzzo, Italy, the heavyweight champion of the world — Bruno Sammartino.” Baker reenacted that introduction from when he was a backup wrestling shade announcer with Buddy Wagner on Channel 48.

Baker informed this story, together with others — like dealing with the PA for the Army-Navy sport and broadcasting school basketball — in a press convention Monday on the DoubleTree Hotel in Cherry Hill, the place he was honored with the Most Courageous award on the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s annual awards dinner.

“A lot of organizations like this have gone out of business,” mentioned Baker, 76, who was acknowledged for persevering by an ongoing battle with most cancers. “Philadelphia Sports Writers are still here. I’m proud to announce for the Phillies for all of these years. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

With practically a half-century because the Phillies’ PA man, Baker has nonetheless received it, and he hopes to proceed lending his voice to their video games for one more 10 years.

“If God blesses me with great health and the Phillies will have me,” he added.

In 2020, Baker was identified with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of pores and skin most cancers. He has undergone 24 surgical procedures and 30 radiation remedies since a tumor was present in his proper maxillary sinus. During that interval, Baker continuously requested the surgeons at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, “How soon will I be able to get back?”

He was absent for the Phillies’ 2020 season however returned in 2021 and was readily available for the World Series run final 12 months. Baker remains to be persevering with his rehabilitation and restoration from most cancers, which affected his imaginative and prescient and speech, however docs and buddies have mentioned he has made miraculous enhancements.

» READ MORE: After a half-century in the booth, Dan Baker still lending his voice to the Phillies

“Dan continues his rehabilitation, which does not hinder him from fulfilling his obligations with professionalism, as he always has,” wrote longtime good friend and PSWA member Roger Hendler in a launch. “His determination and zest are amazing to witness.”

On stage with Baker at Monday’s occasion, who had been additionally being honored with awards, was Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson and third baseman Alec Bohm. In the viewers had been household and among the docs who helped Baker throughout his remedy.

Baker has been with the Phillies since 1972, their second season at Veterans Stadium. He has been the longest-tenured PA voice in Major League Baseball because the New York Yankees’ Bob Sheppard retired in 2009.

He’s been part of six of the Phillies’ eight World Series appearances. He has thought of his tenure with the crew a privilege. This 12 months, Baker used one phrase to summarize being again at Citizens Bank Park: grateful.

“You can feel sorry for yourself in this situation. I just feel so fortunate,” Baker mentioned. “I mean, frankly, if that had been it for me a couple of years ago, I would say to God, ‘Thank you.’”

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Mount Ephraim, the Audubon High School graduate was 25 when he began as a PA announcer. In addition to his work with the Phillies, Baker was the Eagles’ PA announcer from 1985 to 2014 and a radio broadcaster for Drexel males’s basketball from 1997 to 2012.

As a longtime Phillies fan, although, Baker mentioned there’s nothing that compares to the sensation he will get when he walks into the ballpark.

“It’s brought me such enjoyment,” he mentioned. “I’ve been able to share it with my family. I’ve met my wife with the Phillies. … Both of our children worked with the Phillies during their college years, so they’ve been so good to me.”